New gear and RG-59...

[miss_my_utv]

I know RG-6 has always been the recommended cable for DTV, but I've had no issues for years using the RG-59 runs that were built into the house (single story, so relatively short runs), including with an HDTivo.

Do things change with the new gear (new dish, MPEG-4, etc.), forcing me me to have to run RG-6? Early on I had heard rumblings about using higher frequencies with the new stuff, but haven't followed it that closely.

I really don't trust the DTV installers to do anything but the most basic stuff, so new cabling, and heavier dish (stucco house w/ tar & gravel & tile roof) makes me wary.

thanks...

[aim2pls]

the loss per hundred feet is significantly higher with RG-59.... max total cable run (with RG-6) if i remember correctly is approx 150 feet dish to furthest receiver. RG-59 would drop this to under 100 Feet (don't have the graph in front of me so thats approx)

would recommend you change out to a good RG-6 ... NOT copper clad steel... with at least 60% shield

while your at it .. use compression connectors .. improper crimping of crimp connectors can easily cause all kind of problems .... NEVER use screw on connectors

[miss_my_utv]

the loss per hundred feet is significantly higher with RG-59.... max total cable run (with RG-6) if i remember correctly is approx 150 feet dish to furthest receiver. RG-59 would drop this to under 100 Feet (don't have the graph in front of me so thats approx)

would recommend you change out to a good RG-6 ... NOT copper clad steel... with at least 60% shield

while your at it .. use compression connectors .. improper crimping of crimp connectors can easily cause all kind of problems .... NEVER use screw on connectors

Thanks for the response.

I'm aware of the loss differences between the two. I've been lucky to have gotten away with using the RG-59 up to now. I'm wondering if the newer equipment for MPEG4 stations is different in a way that will push the RG-59 "over the edge". I vaguely remember the attenuation differences between the two was even greater at higher frequencies (which maybe are used with the new gear?).

The way the house is built, replacing the built-in RG-59 would not be trivial (would likely use outside runs), so just trying to figure out how big a job any "upgrade" would be.

thanks again...

[harsh]

The issue isn't so much the bandwidth as it is the ability of the cable to conduct the DC power for the switchgear. RG59 carries about 31% the current that RG6 can.

This is why you hear people whining about Copper Clad Steel versus solid copper center conductors.

[miss_my_utv]

The issue isn't so much the bandwidth as it is the ability of the cable to conduct the DC power for the switchgear. RG59 carries about 31% the current that RG6 can.

This is why you hear people whining about Copper Clad Steel versus solid copper center conductors.

Again, similar question: has any of this changed with the newest receiving equipment?

thanks...

[davring]

I have mixed cables in my house, most under 50 ft, I have had no problem at all. So far:)

[miss_my_utv]

I have mixed cables in my house, most under 50 ft, I have had no problem at all. So far:)

That's promising!

Are you using any of the MPEG4 stations? I vaguely remember some chatter that the signal for those was going to be different than the MPEG2 stations.

[davring]

All my D* provided local MPEG4 are fantastic. I think the real trick here is the lenght of the runs. I just double checked and my HR20 is the tuner the farthest from the dish with the RG59 cable, over 5 or 6 years old.

[miss_my_utv]

All my D* provided local MPEG4 are fantastic. I think the real trick here is the lenght of the runs. I just double checked and my HR20 is the tuner the farthest from the dish with the RG59 cable, over 5 or 6 years old.

If it's just length of the runs, and nothing has changed with the new gear, presumably I'd be OK (since all seems to work well now with 2 DVRs). That would be good!

thanks...